Rangers We Have Known

[Onceaneagle]

Many of us have owned Rangers over the years. To honor those Rangers who served no matter for how long, I am starting this thread by posting my very good friend Doug's 1996 Ranger. "Colonel Darby" left us August 16, 2025, after 325,700 miles of active service. The oil pump gave out while hauling debris to the local dump. That incident, along with much structural damage acquired over many campaigns, caused retirement and donation to a local veteran's organization.

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[1996-to-2025]

My 96 is still getting it done. I drive it to work everyday.

 

[Jason B]

Technically a rebadged Ranger, but I had this '99 B4000 4x4 Cab Plus with suicide rear doors for a couple of years before I bought my '21.
Paid $800 for it, put in about $1200 of suspension work. I sold it to a coworker for $2500.
He still drives it, with close to 250K miles.

 

[Onceaneagle]

This was my first P/U, a 1996 Ford Ranger STX Extended Cab 4 x4 in Bright Red. Just picking it up six weeks after ordering from Rusty Eck Ford, Leavenworth, Kansas; @ $200 over invoice with free lifetime oil changes. Traded my 1992 Eagle Talon. Ranger had the 3.0L engine that I found to labor when running the A/C going uphill, 5 speed manual transmission, shift on the fly knob to four-wheel, cloth bucket seats, two back jump seats that folded down facing inward, OWL Firestones with the Explorer rims, bug shield, AM/FM cassette player, and a Ford plastic drop in over the rail bed liner. Added chrome eye bolt stake pocket tie down points. Had one tire ruined when I took a nail in the sidewall at 150 miles. Next year I got four new raised white letter tires, thanks to the Firestone tire recall. Sold the Ranger at a private yard sale in 2001, when the wife and I moved overseas for two years. Really enjoyed that truck, even at 6'4".

 

[superj]

My dad had rangers as his companies plumbing trucks so i had lots of time behind the wheel and under the hood of a number if different rangers.

My personal rangers:

1998 mazda b2300 single cab 5 speed

And my current older ranger, an 04 single cab 3.0 powered edge with a five speed and step side bed. Its also got a hurst shifter on it and the 4.10 geared 8.8 instead of the smaller 7 inch diff.

 

[Bushmechanic]

I had a 2002 single cab a few years ago. It was actually pretty fun to drive, and the climate control would freeze you right out of it. Turn on the A/C, though, and there goes half your power.

 

[mrmike7189]

I had a 2005 Ranger EDGE 4x4 that a neighbor is still driving everyday. My new Ranger is a 2024 STX

 

[Sparky62]

Used to have a 1994 Ranger with the 4.0/ V6 and automatic transmission. My dad had a 1996 with the same engine but manual transmission.

 

[BrentZ]

Many of us have owned Rangers over the years. To honor those Rangers who served no matter for how long, I am starting this thread by posting my very good friend Doug's 1996 Ranger. "Colonel Darby" left us August 16, 2025, after 325,700 miles of active service. The oil pump gave out while hauling debris to the local dump. That incident, along with much structural damage acquired over many campaigns, caused retirement and donation to a local veteran's organization.

No pictures but I owned a 1983 4 speed manual 2WD back in the early 90's.

 

[Onceaneagle]

My 2003 Ford Ranger Extended Cab Edge 4x4 with the 4.0L engine. Great truck. Traded it in for a new 2010 Ford F150 Supercab FX4. That was the days of gas guzzler incentives. So, the 4.0L V6 "guzzler" became a 5.4L V8 with slightly better MPG! With incentive and trade, I paid $22K out the door for a $43K F150 SC FX4 factory ordered with my packages and a Line-X spray-in tossed in. Found an updated picture with the step bars. Don't remember who made them. Factory rubber floor covering with raised pips.

 

[Scooter]

Wow, nearly 330,000 Miles.

I have the last 4G Gen. A 2011 XL Ranger. Standard, 2.3L. Time to move on.
The only poorly engineered thing is the E Brake. Drum inside rotor. I got tired of trying to get it too work correctly. Very time consuming to repair it. Could not buy good brake pads for it. The pads would stick to the drums when parked for a while. Good place for moisture. I just removed it and put the truck in gear when parked. I consider each time that it will not roll away.
Its the beginning of the ABS system. Good thing you could turn it off when in snow. Detuning motor and applying brakes. Very basic truck. Wish to buy a fancy new one. The 4G has served me well over 10 years. Just too small of cabin space for a big guy. Good truck. Will buy Ford again.

 

[Onceaneagle]

Wow, nearly 330,000 Miles.

I have the last 4G Gen. A 2011 XL Ranger. Standard, 2.3L. Time to move on.
The only poorly engineered thing is the E Brake. Drum inside rotor. I got tired of trying to get it too work correctly. Very time consuming to repair it. Could not buy good brake pads for it. The pads would stick to the drums when parked for a while. Good place for moisture. I just removed it and put the truck in gear when parked. I consider each time that it will not roll away.
Its the beginning of the ABS system. Good thing you could turn it off when in snow. Detuning motor and applying brakes. Very basic truck. Wish to buy a fancy new one. The 4G has served me well over 10 years. Just too small of cabin space for a big guy. Good truck. Will buy Ford again.

Had an automatic so never used the e-break. I had a vehicle with a manual tranny where the e-break would do exactly what you described. I did not use the e-brake; just made sure it was in gear when parked.

 

[Scooter]

@oceaneagle. I am a Machinist, mechanically inclined. This E brake system was poorly designed. I replaced everything and still could not get it to work correctly. You could not easily get your fingers behind the axle bolt flange. You had to remove the axles. When sitting long the pads would adhere to the inner drum. Put it in gear, feel a drag and if forced, rip the pads off the brake shoes.

Good to see Ford does not use the drum inside a rotor design any more.


I think on all vehicles if you are able to work on them like the old ones, you will find a poorly designed setup. Everything is built to a cost.

I order a new XLT. It has a bit too much extra things to go wrong on it. Hoping its a long term truck that does not cost me a lot of money to maintain.

Ok, side track over. Show us the Rangers you have owned.

 

[mrmike7189]

@oceaneagle. I am a Machinist, mechanically inclined. This E brake system was poorly designed. I replaced everything and still could not get it to work correctly. You could not easily get your fingers behind the axle bolt flange. You had to remove the axles. When sitting long the pads would adhere to the inner drum. Put it in gear, feel a drag and if forced, rip the pads off the brake shoes.

Good to see Ford does not use the drum inside a rotor design any more.


I think on all vehicles if you are able to work on them like the old ones, you will find a poorly designed setup. Everything is built to a cost.

I order a new XLT. It has a bit too much extra things to go wrong on it. Hoping its a long term truck that does not cost me a lot of money to maintain.

Ok, side track over. Show us the Rangers you have owned.

The best Ranger for those worried about things going haywire is the XL model( base model )
It has the least amount of technology. I got my XL with 4 wheel drive and side steps. no other options.

 

[Scooter]

I actually like the rubber floor covering in the XL. Makes more sense for a work truck. I wish you could wash it out. I think the Bronco drain Plugs would have been good on the ranger.
I did not order a lot of tech on the XLT.

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